Discussions in the morning will focus on how to incorporate diverse communities into recovery efforts when areas are devastated in various ways. From the Lower 9th Ward being inundated after Hurricane Katrina, to the disappearing coastline in southern Louisiana to Treme being ravaged by demolition and neglect, many communities in our region and nationally are struggling to recover from massive disruptions. We'll discuss ways communities here and elsewhere are rising to such challenges.

In the afternoon, a series of presenters will provide the latest information on many of the real estate development projects that are either in process or under discussion in and around the historic Treme neighborhood. We’ll hear from the government officials who are leading the way, and from the developers who are investing the area. And we’ll look at how these many projects may provide jobs or other community resources.

A lunch-time discussion will look at the future of the Claiborne Corridor, the historic expanse of Claiborne Avenue. We’ll hear from some of those investing in the area, and their visions for how to revive a once-vibrant section of New Orleans.

Admission to the symposium free. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, and a cocktail reception will follow. Seating is limited, so please register in advance here.

8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.Disrupted Sites: From Disaster to RecoveryHere and around the world, communities have been disrupted by disasters both natural and man-made. Especially in urban America, people of color often have not been able to participate in their own recovery. Our presenters discuss cities that have experienced massive disruptions – and share successful strategies for rebuilding the urban environment with dialogue and inclusiveness.Moderator and Presenter: Glenn LaRue Smith, ASLA, Smith + Murray Studios, Washington D.C.Presenters:Diane Jones, ASLA, DesignJones LLC, New Orleans and BaltimoreDouglas Williams, University of IllinoisPhilip Gallegos, University of Colorado Denver

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.Losing Ground: Disappearing Coastlines – and Urban CentersLouisiana is ground-zero for land loss both literal and figurative. We’ve got the highest rate of coastline disappearance in the nation, and our largest city has suffered one of the greatest disruptions in modern history. How can communities of color address catastrophic events and the opportunities that come with rebuilding?Moderator: Happy Johnson, National Wildlife FederationPresenters:Charles Allen III, Director, Mayor's Office of Environmental Affairs and Coastal Programs, New OrleansMatilda Tennessee, Director, Limitless Vistas, New OrleansRev. Tyrone Edwards, Zion Travelers Cooperative, Phoenix and Plaquemines ParishDr. Earthea A. Nance, University of New Orleans

11:30 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.Opening the City: How to Design and Build the Place We Want for LivingHow do we build the livable city of the near future? By including all of the people in re-imagining and rebuilding the urban environment. Ideals of the “open city” and the “just city” must be incorporated, along with the skills of design, architecture, landscape architecture and urban planning – which, if used wisely, can help us rebuild in ways that recover lost ground and renew our culture.Moderator: David Lee, FAIA, Stall & Lee, BostonPresenters:Dan Etheridge, Associate Director, Tulane City Center, Tulane University, New OrleansLonnie Wilkinson, NOMA, AIA, Dean, School of Architecture, Southern University at Baton RougeJacques Morial, Owner, Enterprise Strategies Public Policy Development & Analysis, New Orleans

12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.Luncheon Presentation and Panel Discussion:Real Estate Development in the Claiborne CorridorThere are many projects to develop real estate along the Claiborne Corridor in various stages of completion. We’ll talk to some of the developers and hear their visions for how these projects will affect the surrounding community.Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and the Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement & DevelopmentCo-sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation and the National Park Service

Treme 411: The Future of Our Historic NeighborhoodPresented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.The Future of the Claiborne CorridorThe Federal and City governments are leading the way to a new future for the Claiborne Corridor, with projects that encompass green space, housing, retail and transportation. We hear from key public officials on what these projects are and where they stand currently.Frederick Tombar, III, Senior Advisor , Office of the Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban DevelopmentWilliam A. Gilchrist, Director, Mayor’s Office of Place-Based Planning, New OrleansMaggie Merrill, Senior Advisor, Housing Authority of New OrleansModerator: Vaughn Fauria, President, NewCorp, New Orleans

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.Basin Street Green: New Public Spaces and Recreation in the TremeArmstrong Park and the Lafitte Greenway are at the gateway to the Treme. We look at how these public lands impact the community.Cyril Saulny, Treme 4 TremeLuther Gray, Congo Square Preservation Society

5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.Closing ReceptionEntertainment by the Treme Brass BandCo-sponsored by the Urban League